Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

FLESH

In the OT, primarily the muscular part of the body (Gen. 2:23). “Flesh” (Heb. bāśār) is used with reference to both humans and animals (Gen. 6:17), and to both the living and the dead (1 Sam. 17:44). The flesh of animals may be used for sacrifice and for food (1 Sam. 2:13).

In the NT flesh (Gk. sárx) is quite different from the body (sṓma), and refers to mankind’s human nature. At times it does refer to the human body (Gal. 2:20), but at other times it means mankind as a whole (Matt. 24:22). Sometimes it is even used to emphasize the essential nature of humankind as soul, body, and spirit (1 John 4:2). Flesh may suggest the total experience of life, as a psycho-physical being (2 Cor. 7:5). Flesh is also used to describe the commitment of a couple for each other in marriage (Matt. 19:5).

Likewise, flesh refers to the weaker aspects of the nature of humankind that are subject to temptation (Matt. 26:41; 2 Pet. 2:18). If a person does not resist temptation, then the desire to sin will increase (1 John 2:16) and the result will be spiritual bondage (Rom. 6:19). When this happens, the individual will be enslaved to the desires of the flesh (Eph. 2:3) and will have the mind-set of the flesh (Rom. 8:5-7). The consequence will be corruption (Gal. 6:8) and the inability to discern God’s revelation of himself (Matt. 16:17).

Flesh, however, is not naturally sinful. Christ came in the flesh (John 1:14) and was without sin (Heb. 4:15) so that he could redeem those who are in the flesh (Gal. 2:20). Those who accept Christ as Savior remain physically in the flesh but do not live according to the sinful flesh (Rom. 8:9). They are led by the Spirit to put to death the deeds of the flesh, but not the flesh itself (Rom. 8:13).

Donald R. Potts

Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

FLESH

Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible (2000)